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J.R. Tolkien

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

If you ever want to step back in time, cross the Ohio River and you’ll find yourself transported to a slower time in downtown Jeffersonville, Indiana. On Spring Street, the quintessential small American town is in full display with restaurants, local businesses, bakeries, gift shops and government offices all right next to one another, easily accessible by foot.

At Schimpff’s, you can watch them make candies the old fashion way, sample red hots hot off the line and access the free candy museum in the back. Grab a soda at the bar right next door.

Candy museum at Schimpff's

Nestled in the corner of Spring Street and W. Chestnut Street is a cute little park with little benches to simply hide away for a bit. Or walk across the street to grab a cup of coffee at Too Tired Bike and Bean and people watch from a sidewalk table or hide out in a corner seat on a rainy day.

On the weekend at the River Stage, pack your picnic blanket and basket to enjoy an outdoor movie or a concert for free. Even though Louisville’s skyline is glaring a short distance away, Jeffersonville still retains its small town quaintness and charm.

View of Louisville from River Stage

I’ve been spending a little more time over here since my husband started his Pokemon craze. On any given night, downtown Jeffersonville is swarming with rare Pokemon and Pokemon players. Since I don’t play, I find joy in discovering little nooks and crannies of Jeffersonville and great places to eat. If you ever find yourself over in Jeffersonville, here is a list of a few of my favorite discoveries in and around Jeffersonville that are delicious and cheap.

If you just want a casual place to grab a few drinks and a bite of a few American favorites like burgers and chicken tenders, this is the place. For food, order at the bar and grab a seat. The burger is huge and delicious. I got the Caprese salad with heirloom tomatoes, a refreshing and tangy salad for a light meal or appetizer. For the best deal, get the half platter of chicken tenders and fries for only $6. It’s delicious and cheap. On a nice day, the large window panels are open so you can get a great outdoor dining experience.

If you haven’t visited this lunch and all day breakfast café yet, you’re missing out. Orange clover offers large portions of delicious salads, sandwiches and soups at a great price. Everything is beautifully presented, fresh, and yummy. I got half of a salmon salad and got the biggest piece of perfectly grilled salmon for only $9 that came with 2 sides. If the potato soup is on the menu, get it and thank me later. It’s creamy, hearty, garlicky and amazing. I had their shrimps and grits at an event, it was delicious as well, but this is only offered on certain days.

Urban Bread Company (formerly known as the Hub Café), specializes in delicious roti tacos. Roti or chapatti is unleavened flat bread made with whole meal flour or white flour, originated and consumed in the Indian subcontinent, the Caribbean and parts of Africa with regional variations. It looks a little bit like naan, which is leavened with yeast, but softer in texture. The version here is a delicious fusion of flavors, with soft buttery roti as a taco shell containing familiar American fillings such as crunchy pork belly, smoked briskets, blackened chicken, nutella, salmon, etc. The price range from $4 - $5 for each roti, and you can be sufficiently filled with 2. The appetizers are delicious as well, try the tater tots or the crispy wontons. This former small cafe became so popular it has since moved and now have 3 locations.

Five minutes down the road from the Hub Café is a hole in the wall taco restaurant with delicious and authentic Mexican fares. It’s a few doors down from a grocery store by the same name (the restaurant doesn’t have any signs in front of it). The burrito is humongous and only costs $8.50. If you love tacos, you can get them here for only $2.25, they are fresh and delicious. For something different to drink, try their horchata or aqua frescas (flavored water).

I came here when they first opened as part of a Yelp sponsored event and had a delicious dinner in a beautiful setting. I came back recently for lunch and that experience really solidified my love for this place. The cauliflower appetizer is deceptively simple and simply delicious, it's roasted then garnished with lemon caper vinaigrette, and chili flakes. It's $8 and big enough to share. Another favorite is the char-grilled oysters topped drizzle with chipotle butter and topped with lime. I can have at least a dozen. For an a cheaper option, come during lunch. The fried pork sandwich is huge and go perfectly with the smashed potatoes. The restaurant is bright, airy and inviting with a beautiful view of the Ohio river.

Right at the ramp of the Big Four Bridge is the newly opened pizza Parlour. They offer a beautiful outdoor hangout spot, pizza and pints. I haven't been but plan to check it out in the future. The place is always crowded with people, so plan a head of you plan to stop by.